Harvard drops Clarkson

POTSDAM  Last-place Harvard made the road to hosting an ECAC Hockey playoff series a bit tougher for the Clarkson University mens hockey team, stunning the Golden Knights 6-2 before 2,334 fans in the final regular-season home game Saturday at Cheel Arena.

The top eight teams in the 12-team league are assured of hosting a home playoff series and Clarkson is in seventh place with 19 points with two games remaining next weekend at Rensselaer and Union.

Had Clarkson (9-16-7 overall, 8-9-3 conference) won Saturday, it would have moved into a three-way tie with Dartmouth and Yale for fourth place, which is the final spot that gets a first-round bye.

It was a tough game for us tonight, disappointing with what was on the line, Clarkson coach Casey Jones said. At this point and time we control our own destiny and we have to play well next weekend to take care of business. It was a missed opportunity tonight and thats what stings the most. It was sitting right in front of us tonight.

Clarkson produced a strong outing Friday, shutting out Dartmouth 4-0, and the Golden Knights got off to a good start Saturday when Ben Sexton scored a power-play goal just 5 minutes, 24 seconds into the game.

But Harvard (8-16-3, 5-13-2) responded by scoring three goals in the first period to take a two-goal lead.

Harvard tied the game with a power-play goal from Kyle Criscuolo at 7:44, and then Criscuolo scored on a breakaway at 8:53 to give the Crimson the lead for good.

Last night was tough, Criscuolo said of a 4-2 loss at St. Lawrence University. We had a lead last night and kind of blew it in two shifts. We wanted to get up on these guys and to make it a two-goal game was huge. It was good to get three in the first period and get a lead there.

Harvard built the 3-1 lead when Greg Gozzo scored on a rebound with 23.6 seconds left in the opening period.

I think we just got away from our game plan, Clarkson forward Adam Pawlick said. We have to get pucks deep and use our size and bring pucks to the net. I think we got a little too cute around our offensive blue line. We have to really drive the net, thats where we are creating scoring chances.

Clarkson responded to a stunning first period by controlling play in the second, outshooting the Crimson 15-3.

The Golden Knights cut Harvards lead to one when Simon Bessette scored on a shot from the circle at 18:31.

But after getting back into the game in the second, Clarkson was stunned again when the Crimson scored three goals in 2:53 of the third period to turn the game into a runaway.

Conor Morrison started the spurt with a shot that went over the glove of Clarkson goalie Greg Lewis and rang off the post at 6:41. Gozzo scored his second goal of the game at 7:34 and Brayden Jaw ended the run with a goal at 8:49.

I think we clogged zones up (Friday) and we were in good position, Clarkson defenseman Andrew Himelson said. (Saturday) we gave up too many odd-man rushes and they were very opportunistic tonight. When they had chances they buried their chances.

If Clarkson is to return to Cheel Arena for a playoff series, it may have to earn at least two points next weekend in road games against second-place Rensselaer and two-time defending regular-season champion Union.

We dont want this to be the last time we play at Cheel, so there is definitely motivation there, Himelson said. We want to get the best possible seed we can for the playoffs. Well see what happens.

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